Is spring break really over?

All I can see is piles of wet, some even sandy, towels...

fish tales

.....................................................................lost my whole post- but here are the pictures!

A selfie for a moment of happiness

Perhaps we are obsessed with ourselves and with social media. I could argue that in today's mad racing world, without the "selfie" we can lose sight of ourselves, literally. Our brains can't hold all the stimuli. We shoot ourselves with our phones and post it on our blog and there... there!... lies the proof.

I have had blissful moments. Being in the proximity of my nieces and nephews is one of the best. I love being an aunt!

Student art show

We just took down the annual spring juried art show. Jorge Ateca juried awards for 125 artists.

Perhaps I Exaggerate...

...When I say "anything" is worthy of paint. Here are two works done during the week, at my job, in order to demonstrate how even the most mundane of subject matter: a stool, or a roll of tape and some shoe boxes, can be made interesting to look at.

These are ink and paint on found printed matter on plaster on Styrofoam. 7 x 5 x 1/2 inch thick

Everybody's painting but me

I'm writing narratives, arranging for the annual spring art show juror to visit, matting works, and cajoling, cheering, consoling students. I get to do it again all day tomorrow... hey! There could be worse jobs.

Head chatter, self portraits

lesson of the week.

We looked at videos of Chuck Close and started with photographs, the grid, pencil. Finished in Acrylic. This is a sampling of the most finished, out of the 47 students I am teaching painting to. Stay tuned for more soon.

There is head chatter, and then...

It's funny how questions go flashing in my head like lively fish contained in a small tank. Am I in the right place? Am I doing the right thing? Is the way I spend my days worth it? Where are my friends? Where is my energy? When do I know everything will be alright? How does the time fly so fast? How can I stay in touch with my sons? How do I stay in touch with my parents? What is important to me? Where are my priorities? Will I have to move again? Is the new studio a mistake? This week my partner is traveling and I arrive home after a long day in the classroom and the empty space  challenges me. In doing a self portrait I told the students to think of how their background- the surrounding space- identifies them and effects the tone of their skin. I tell them everybody is proportional, but not evenly balanced... one side can be a little smaller, a little higher, a bit different from the other. That imperfection makes us perfect. Then again, nothing is perfect. Hmmmm

Getting my feet wet

 There comes that moment of bliss where your feet are sinking into soft sand and the water is lapping at your ankles and, looking down, you see an undulating web of light that flickers and moves across the bottom of the sea, and over the top of your feet. You know you are in a place far removed from your everyday existence. You take a moment and breath it in.

That time and space is what I tried to capture here.

leap of faith, exercize in discipline: New Studio!

I've just thrown my brush into a collaborative studio venture! A new creative direction for Tillystudio LLC.

Mariana, Zanze, Martha, Patricia and I just signed a lease on a space in the Falls warehouse district, south Miami. Calling it the ARTHOUSE, we plan to share the inspiration, have a great time, and make art. (One or two of the ladies has a facebook page started for us. )

It is a little scary undertaking. Do I have the energy to commit to spending more time and money on being an artist? The space needs work. Michael is willing to help.The electricity need to be turned on.

 Just kidding about some of these pictures. They show the sculptures by the previous tenant, CrossfitMiami, still occupying the space. I thought it would interest my sons. ;-)

 Outside from the street. We are the second garage door from the right, surrounded by contractors and film companies. The Ceramic League is a couple doors down. Our mail lady says it is a great neighborhood for creativity, and food truck parties!

Even comes with a shower! Might come in useful. When the school year ends there will be hot summer days ahead.